Scores turn out to support Down’s syndrome awareness walk

Al Ain, UAE: Six-year-old Ahmad Khalid fed a carrot to a giraffe and giggled with joy, looking at the other children around him. He and his companions, who all have

Down’s syndrome, were taking part in a walk aimed at raising awareness about the genetic condition.

A large number of residents, families, friends, caregivers, physicians and health-care providers joined the 21 special needs children on Saturday at Al Ain Zoo. The event, organised by the Down’s Syndrome Support Group at Tawam Hospital, was aimed at raising awareness about the condition and supporting those who have it.

"Down’s syndrome is not a disease that needs to be cured, it’s simply a condition," said Dr Jennifer Price Corder, consultant physician, general paediatrics, Tawam Hospital.

In the past, said Dr Corder, people with Down’s syndrome were not given the opportunity to learn because people mistakenly thought that they were unable to.

"As a result of being ignored they led lives which were unfulfilling and the medical condition they sometimes had were left untreated, causing them unnecessary suffering," she said.

Today, things are different.

"We know if we do not set our expectations too low they will surprise us with what they can do. We know this because these children have become musicians and artists and athletes and actors and many other things. They can volunteer, some have jobs too," she added.

She said that a Down’s syndrome clinic specialising in care for children has been operating at Tawam Hospital since August 2012. About 150 people from newborns to people in their early 20s are registered there.

Educational event

"We realised the community needs a lot more advocacy… and so we support the general education of all members of the community."

The clinic also enjoys the support of a volunteer group of students from Al Ain English Speaking School. The group also took part in the walk.

Down’s syndrome is the most commonly occurring chromosomal condition.

According to estimates from the WHO (World Health Organisation) the overall incidence is about 1 in 800 to 1 in 1,000 live births. However, a study done in Dubai published in 2007 found the UAE overall incidence rate to be 1 in 449 (Emiratis and expatriates together). That same study found an incident ratio of 1 in 319 in Emirati births.

Dr Mariam Al Musafiri, an Emirati doctor at Tawam Hospital and one of the organisers of the walk, said the number of people being born with Down’s syndrome was on the rise in the UAE and a support group has been set up to help them and their families.

Explaining the disorder, Dr Mariam said that human beings have 23 pairs of chromosomes, half of which are inherited from each parent. Down’s syndrome occurs when a person has a full or partial extra copy of the 21st chromosome.

This extra copy, she said, alters the child’s course of development. This can be identified by typical physical traits such as weak muscle tone, small stature and eyes that slant upwards.

The support group will organise another educational event on March 21 in Al Ain to mark World Down’s Syndrome Day. The event will comprise lectures for parents, activities for children and visitors from Paris will educate participants about research in the field.